remove
C1Neutral to formal. Common in official, technical, and everyday contexts. Informal alternatives (like 'take off', 'get rid of') exist.
Definition
Meaning
To take something away from its current place or position, or to eliminate something.
To dismiss someone from a position or office; to get rid of an unwanted substance or mark; to be distant or remote from something (formal).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies physical displacement or elimination. Can be permanent or temporary. Often used in procedural contexts (IT, law, manufacturing).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. 'Remove' is slightly more formal in everyday British English. In American English, it's common in technical/legal contexts.
Connotations
British: Associated with formal procedures (e.g., 'removing' a stain, a pupil from school). American: Strong in procedural/IT contexts (e.g., 'remove a program', 'remove from office').
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties, but domain-specific usage may vary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
remove somethingremove something from somethingremove yourself (formal)be removedVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A far remove from (something)”
- “Once removed (cousin)”
- “Remove the scales from someone's eyes”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To dismiss an employee; to delete an item from an inventory or list.
Academic
To eliminate a variable in an experiment; to take out a section from a text.
Everyday
To take off clothing; to clean a mark; to delete a file.
Technical
To uninstall software; to surgically extract; to decontaminate.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please remove your shoes before entering.
- The council voted to remove the controversial statue.
- The surgeon will remove the gallbladder laparoscopically.
- Can you remove this old software from the computer?
American English
- You'll need to remove the battery to access the compartment.
- The CEO was removed by the board for misconduct.
- Use this solvent to remove the grease stain.
- They removed several clauses from the contract.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; 'removably' exists technically but is exceedingly rare.)
American English
- (Not standard; 'removably' exists technically but is exceedingly rare.)
adjective
British English
- The issue is not remotely remove from our concerns. (formal/rare)
- A once-remove cousin attended the wedding.
American English
- His ideas are far remove from reality. (formal/rare)
- She is my first cousin once removed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Remove the cup from the table.
- I removed my coat.
- The dentist had to remove two teeth.
- They removed the old furniture from the room.
- Try to remove any errors from the document.
- The government was forced to remove the unpopular tax.
- This cream helps remove dead skin cells.
- He was removed from his position due to negligence.
- The judge ordered the evidence to be removed from the record.
- The new policy aims to remove barriers to entry for small businesses.
- A clause was removed to facilitate the agreement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RE-MOVE: think of 'moving something again (re-)' away from its original place.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBSTACLES ARE BLOCKS TO BE REMOVED; PROBLEMS ARE STAINS TO BE REMOVED.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'перемещать' (to move/relocate). 'Remove' акцент на устранении/изъятии, а не просто на движении.
- В формальном контексте 'to be removed from office' = 'быть отстранённым от должности', а не 'переведённым'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I removed the book on the shelf.' (Correct: 'I took the book from the shelf.' / 'I removed the book from the shelf.')
- Overusing 'remove' for simple 'take' actions.
- Incorrect preposition: 'remove of' instead of 'remove from'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'remove' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Delete' is primarily used for digital information (text, files). 'Remove' is broader and can be physical (remove a chair) or abstract (remove a name from a list), including digital contexts.
Yes, but often in formal or negative contexts: 'remove a child from a dangerous situation', 'remove a player from the game', 'remove a corrupt official from office'. It can sound impersonal or harsh.
It is neutral but leans towards formality in everyday physical contexts (where 'take out/off' is more common). It is the standard term in technical, legal, medical, and official language.
It indicates a difference of one generation. Your cousin's child is your 'first cousin once removed' (one generation down/up from you).